River Plate could consider themselves unfortunate to only earn a point last week against São Paulo but made amends on Tuesday evening in emphatic fashion as Marcelo Gallardo’s side put six past Peruvian club Binacional.
Having conceded eight at the Monumental in March, Binacional had hoped that bringing River to the extreme altitude of Juliaca would be something of a leveller. However, unable to play at their usual home in Lima Binacional were made to suffer again at the hands of River.
A left-footed Nicolás De La Cruz shot, a deflected Matías Suárez volley and another for youngster Julián Álvarez gave River a commanding half time lead and it was only a question of whether they could match their haul from back in March.
Ultimately River couldn’t quite manage that but Nacho Fernández and Lucas Pratto, who came off the bench to score twice ending an almost 18-month-long goal drought, wrapped up the points.
Liga de Quito lead Group D after a win over São Paulo and if River can beat the Brazilians in Avellaneda next week they will guarantee their place in the last 16.
Binacional 0 – 6 River Plate
Tigre on the other hand need a miracle after picking up only their first point of the tournament against Bolivar.
It might have been more were it not for the performance of Bolivar goalkeeper Javier Rojas. The 24-year-old could do nothing to prevent Pablo Magnin giving Tigre the lead but pulled off a string of saves to keep the Primera Nacional side out and his opposite number Gonzalo Marinelli gifted the visitors their equaliser – Marcos Riquelme cutting out the keeper’s attempted pass to divert the ball into the net.
Tigre must beat Guaraní and Palmeiras if they are to progress and the chances of that look slim to none.
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